“It’s better than I imagined. The green tile you wanted in the backsplash is gorgeous.”
“They matched it in the guest bath shower.” He took her hand. “Come see.”
He pulled her through the living room to the bathroom and turned on the light. They stood together and studied everything from the marble counter on the white cabinet, brushed nickel sink faucet, the black-and-white tile floor, and the gorgeous new shower with the same kitchen backsplash tiles in a band around the shower to add interest to the wide, rectangle, white tiles. All of it worked and gave the house a brand-new feel that made her think of those transformations on the home and garden shows she loved to watch on TV.
But did Austin like all the choices she and Roxy had made for him? “Are you happy?”
Austin stared down at her. “Are you kidding me? This is more than I ever expected. I don’t think I would have come up with the design and how it all ties together the way you did.”
“Roxy helped.”
He touched her face and swept his thumb over her cheek. “Don’t think I don’t know how many changes you made to the plans because you were here and got to know me and what I’d like.”
“The point was always to make the house your space.” She put her hand on his chest. “That’s what your grandfather wanted.”
“It’s getting there. Once we move the furniture and other belongings still out in the front yard on tarps into the house, it’ll start feeling like home and not some project. Want to see the master bath? It’s even better than this with the double sinks and the huge shower.”
Sonya headed down the hall with him.
“The office and guest room still need work,” he admitted. He probably would have gotten to them if he hadn’t gone to Vegas to see her. “I moved all the office stuff back in for safekeeping.”
The office door remained closed. Only the antique bed with a brand-new mattress sat in the middle of the clean spare room. Once they brought in the furniture, it would be a lovely guest room.
“I need to buy new sheets, blankets, and pillows for the beds.”
“I’ll get started on this room and the office tomorrow. I’ll make a list of what we need to buy for the bedrooms and kitchen, though I think you can get by with what I salvaged of your grandfather’s dishes and utensils.”
“I bet you’ve got a list in your head or on your phone for each room.”
They entered the master bedroom. Austin turned on the newly installed black overhead light with the mercury glass lightbulb covers. She barely noticed it. Both of them stopped and stared at the beautifully made bed in the center of the otherwise empty room.
“Uh, I didn’t do that.”
Sonya smiled and shook her head. “Roxy did it.”
Austin put his hands on her shoulders. “Except for the green blanket instead of blue, it looks a hell of a lot like your bed at the Ranch.”
“Yes, it does.” Roxy’s way of making her feel at home here and hinting that this is the bed she belonged in with a man who refused to let her go without a fight and came after her because she mattered to him. Austin declared her his girlfriend because that’s what he wanted her to be. And she wanted to be that in every sense of the word.
Right now, she wanted to dive in headfirst and let the current of this thing between them sweep them away, taking them wherever they were meant to be.
She turned to Austin and spread her hands wide on his chest. “She went through a lot of trouble to make that bed all nice for us.”
Austin didn’t speak. He just nodded once.
“Want to mess it up with me?”
He caressed her cheek with his thumb again. “Are you sure? I can crash in the other room.”
“Is that what you want?”
He leaned in close. “I want you.”
His words thrilled and excited her. “Show me how much.”
He didn’t hesitate to unleash his need and kiss her with a passion he’d obviously held in check the last few times he’d kissed her. She recognized the feel of his lips against hers and the taste of him. But the kiss held an exciting intensity that promised what came next was going to be like nothing she’d ever experienced.
He didn’t rush, but kept the kissing going so they could both learn what the other liked and they had time to settle the initial rush of lust to a level that made it easier for them to explore and savor. She slid her hands up and down his hard chest and around his back. Sculpted muscles pressed against her palms, her fingertips mapping every dip and rise. His hands sank from her shoulders, down her sides, and around her waist to settle on her bottom. He pulled her closer, pressing his hard length against her soft belly.
The contact made him growl low in his throat. She smiled against his lips.
“You like that.” He dipped his head and kissed his way down her throat and over her chest. He nipped her hard nipple through her T-shirt and bra. She gripped his golden hair and held him to her. “You like that better.”
“Stop teasing.” Her fingers threaded through his hair as he stood, bringing her shirt up and over her head, making her let go of him. She reached behind herself to undo her bra. He dipped low and licked her breast above the cup, then took her nipple into his warm mouth and sucked and slid his tongue over her heavy breast.
With his mouth at her other breast, her bra a mere memory on the floor, she slid her hands down his back, gripped his T-shirt in her fists, and pulled it off. He left her breasts only long enough for the shirt to clear his head and for her to toss it away. His hands worked on the button and zipper on her jeans. He kissed his way down her belly as he lowered the jeans to her ankles. She toed off her tennis shoes and then kicked off the jeans.
He sank to his knees and traced his fingers over the vine and roses tattoo that wound around her thigh and up over her hip on her right leg. “Noah said Annabelle’s been bugging him to get the same tattoo all of you have.” He kissed each of the four roses. “You and your sisters.”
She brushed her fingers through his silky blond hair. “We are all connected to each other and to that place, though we made a small part of it ours.”
He nodded, then laid a trail of kisses over her belly and worked off her socks. His hands slid up and down her legs in soft caresses until they came up and cupped her bottom. His fingers hooked her panties’ waistband, the palms of his hands pressed to her ass. He looked up at her, his eyes alight with a burning desire that made the blue look like sparkling crystal. “God, you’re so soft and beautiful.”
She didn’t know what to say when the whispered words held a reverence that made her eyes glass over and her heart swell and melt all at the same time.
She cupped his rough jaw in her hands and stared down at him. “Austin.”
His name made the fire in his eyes flash. Her panties disappeared as fast as his mouth found her center. His tongue stroked her soft folds, and then he sank into her heat. He hooked one arm under her thigh and propped her leg over his shoulder. Her head fell back and she gave herself over to the amazing feel of his mouth on her wet center, his tongue plunging deep and sweeping over her clit. She wanted him so bad she didn’t last long and came with his name on her lips and his mouth pressed hard against her.
Her legs wobbled and threatened to buckle, but she didn’t have to worry. Austin wrapped his arm around her waist, lifted her up, kissed her hard and deep, and walked to the bed and laid her out on the cool cover. They sank into the new mattress. Austin broke the kiss and levered himself up on his hands and stared down at her. “You’re . . .” He swept his gaze over her face and down her body between them and back up. “Damn, sweetheart, I want you so bad.” He pressed his forehead to her shoulder and sucked in a deep ragged breath to cool down.
He leaned back and slid off the end of the bed. She watched him staring at her as he undid his belt, button, and zipper at his waist. His hard length strained against his black boxer briefs. He yanked off his boots, then dropped his jeans and everything else to the floor.
He stood before her, his manhood hard and smooth jutting out toward her.
He held up the condom to let her know he had it.
“Come and get me.”
He crawled back up the bed and her body, drawing out the tension and increasing her need for him to finally touch her and lay his big body over hers so that they lay skin to skin.
When he finally lowered himself between her legs and his chest pressed to her and he kissed her again, her body reached for his. Her arms went around his back. Her legs wrapped around his strong thighs, and she kissed him like her life depended on it. Her hips rocked forward trying to find him, but he kept his head and rubbed his hard length against her wet center and that sweet spot that made ripples of bliss spread through her whole system.
Austin broke the kiss long enough to tear open the condom, roll it on, then cover her again. His lips met hers. His tongue swept along hers. And she took him into her body and deep into her heart with one powerful thrust that joined them and made her whole body tighten around him.
He stopped. For a second, they both held their breath and held on to the moment for a heartbeat that seemed to freeze time.
“Oh God, baby, this is where I’ve wanted to be since I met you.” He pushed in deep and rocked his hips against hers, creating a sweet friction against her clit. She couldn’t get enough. Of that. Of him.
She swept her hands up his back to his shoulders and spread her legs wide and tilted her hips up to meet every one of his powerful thrusts. As his body stroked hers, his breath whispered against her ear along with a dozen sweet sentiments.
Her nails scored across his back as she held tight and met his need with her own. “Harder. Show me how much you want me.”
Instead of heeding her plea, he knew what she really wanted and pulled out and pushed back in with a steady, long, deep push and pull that drove her up to the edge and sent her flying over it. With one hard thrust, he followed her, his body pulsing within hers.
She held him close and went limp into the mattress when his body relaxed on top of hers.
Their breathing seesawed in and out and filled the quiet night. The light blazed overhead, spotlighting them on the bed. She loved the feel of him lying between her legs and draped over her.
She found the strength to softly rub her hands up and down his smooth strong back. She liked his weight on her, the feel of him pressed against her and inside of her. The possessive way he had one hand under her neck, the other under her hip, and his face buried in her hair at the side of her head.
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to fall asleep on top of you.”
“Did you sleep at all last night?”
“No. I had two stops before my plane finally landed in Vegas this morning.”
“You didn’t pack a bag or anything.”
He’d simply come after her. No change of clothes. Nothing but a hope and a prayer that she’d forgive him and come back.
She hugged him closer because it meant so much to her.
He leaned up on his forearm and stared down at her. “I just needed to see you. I needed to apologize and make you believe I’m not cold and calculated like my father.”
“You could never be like him. You have a good and kind heart, Austin.”
“It’s you. I’ve never even thought about going after a woman the way I went after you. I saw how much what happened hurt you. Even if you didn’t forgive me, I had to know that you were all right.”
“Right now, I’m fantastic.” She rubbed her hands up and over his shoulders and drew him down for a kiss. “Let’s put what happened in the past.”
He rubbed his nose against hers, then nuzzled it across her cheek to her ear. “Want to see the shower now?” His tongue swept over her earlobe.
She giggled. “I’d love to see your shower.” She gave him a suggestive look that only ignited that crystalline blue fire in his eyes again.
Chapter Seventeen
Sonya ran out of the bathroom to grab her ringing phone on the bedside table. She held the towel wrapped around her at her chest, raked her damp hair away from her face, and stared down at the caller ID.
Fed up with Dave calling her all the time to help him with his work at the accounting firm, she answered and gave him a piece of her mind. “I quit the firm weeks ago, Dave. You got the promotion that should have been mine. It’s about time you figured out how to do your job on your own. I don’t work for you. And I’m done covering for you and helping you keep what should have been mine, you incompetent ass. Don’t call. Don’t text. I helped you when I worked there because it was good for the firm, but I’m not your lackey anymore. I don’t care if I don’t get a favorable reference.”
“You don’t need one, Miss Tucker,” the female voice announced.
Sonya held her breath. She’d seen the firm’s name on the caller ID and assumed . . . Oh God, what had she done?
“Um . . .”
“I apologize for calling so early. I wanted to catch you before you headed out for the day. This is May Mathis.”
Oh shit. VP of her old department.
“Ms. Mathis, how can I help you?”
“Well, you confirmed many of my suspicions about Dave, his work, and his character. It’s come to my attention that he’s . . . ill suited to his new position. While looking into some questionable account matters, I happened to notice since you left he’s sent you over a hundred emails. Based on how you answered this call, I assume he’s called you numerous times as well. As for the emails, most of them you responded to with detailed instructions on what he should do to handle one matter or another. In addition to your blunt statements that a person at his level should know how to do those things, you made it clear in your responses just how inept he was at his job and that, in fact, you are more qualified. As you stated, the promotion should have gone to you. I was not involved in the decision to give it to Dave, but I believe in promoting talented, smart, dedicated individuals like yourself. I believe the job should go to the most qualified person.”
In not so many words, Ms. Mathis let her know she was that person and Dave had indeed gotten the job because he was a man with seniority, but not a proven track record.
“In my position, I think it’s my responsibility to look out for other women coming up the ladder rungs behind me. I’m sorry I was unaware of the circumstances of your departure from the company. I apologize that you were made to feel like you weren’t an important member of the team. I’ll work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
“Ms. Mathis, what are you getting at?”
“Dave has been fired. The job is yours if you want it. With a significant pay raise and yearly bonus.”
Sonya’s head spun. “I didn’t expect this. I don’t know what to say.”
She’d worked damn hard to get that promotion.
But did she want to go back?
“I understand. I sprang this on you. Take a few days to think it over.”
“Uh, yes. I’m in the middle of a project that I would like to see through, but I will take your offer under consideration and get back to you with my decision as soon as possible.”
“Great. I truly believe you are an asset to the company. I appreciate that after what happened, you’re willing to consider coming back. I hope to hear from you soon.”
“Yes. You will. And thank you, Ms. Mathis. I appreciate the call and the offer.”
Sonya said goodbye and sat on the edge of the bed she’d shared with Austin last night.
She truly didn’t expect the situation with Dave would turn into this. She’d been ready to put a stop to the calls and leave the accounting firm behind her.
But now, they’d offered her the very thing she thought she wanted more than anything in life. She’d worked hard to get the recognition for her contribution and expertise.
This thing between her and Austin was so new. If she left, would the spark they’d ignited into a fire last night fizzle out?
Long-distance relationship
s were hard. Especially when she’d be expected to work sixty-plus hours a week again.
Did she want to go back to that kind of grind?
Was the money and promotion worth it?
Did she have to give up her chance for personal happiness with Austin to have the dream job?
Was the job worth all the hard work and losing Austin?
She liked being with him every day. She’d missed him terribly the few days she’d been in Nevada.
Her mind spun out with questions and possibilities. She didn’t know what to do because she never saw this coming.
She really would need every second of the next few days to figure out what she wanted to do.
She stood and stared down at the rumpled bed. Echoes of making love to Austin pulsed through her body. More than that, she remembered how she felt in his arms. Safe. Protected. Even loved.
She felt like this is where she belonged.
To have one, did she have to give up another? Could she find a way to have both, a job that mattered and the man she cared about more each day?
Austin walked into the bedroom, smiled at the bed he and Sonya wrecked last night, and went to the open bathroom door. Sonya stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair into a ponytail. Gorgeous. Her pale skin glowed against her dark hair. He knew every inch of her lithe body and wanted her again even though he’d made love to her an hour ago and twice last night. He thought his need for her would calm once he’d finally gotten his hands on her. But it only grew with every tempting touch and look she gave him, showing him in a way he’d never experienced with a woman that she enjoyed being with him as much as he did with her. She didn’t hesitate or shy away from letting him know what she wanted and how she wanted it.
He had to admit, her eager participation only made it easier and more comfortable for him to let go. The experience had given him a freedom to explore her and the limits of what she liked and didn’t without feeling like he’d overstepped. It just gave him another avenue to explore.
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